One of Australia's best-lmown spiders is the Redback Spider Latrodectus hasseltii , a close relative of America's Black Widow Spider. It is easily identified by the wonderfully striking orange/red slash on its glossy black (sometimes brown) body. The Redback Spider was immortalised in Slim Newton’s 1972 hit song Redback on the Toilet Seat: There was a Redbnck on the toilet seat When I was there last night, I didn't see him in the dark but boy I felt his bite. It Probably wasn't a male spider that bit the man in the toilet. Only the female that bites. A male redback is only about a tenth of the female's size. He has fangs but they usually can't penetrate human skin. Redbacks spin their webs in dry sheltered areas under rocks or logs. They also frequent human places - under eaves, floorboards, garden sheds, in junk piles, gardens and the outdoor dunny! Their
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